House Extension Architect
When done correctly a house extension will not only transform the enjoyment of your property but importantly add value. Architects are best placed to help homeowners from beginning to end. At Aterlierdb we help Clients through all stages of the project acting as a Lead Consultant + Principal Designer. We recommend other consultants for the team to ensure that all are acting in your interest such as a Structural Engineer, Party Wall Surveyors and more. Using this traditional form of procurement, retaining Consultants on the ‘client side’, is the only way to control the Build quality is as required. ‘Design + Build’ companies provide a turnkey solution where all eggs are in the same basket – something impossible to truly appraise or control.
Types of House Extensions
The main types of house extensions that can be added are:
- Rear ground floor extension
- Side return ground floor extension
- Wrap around ground floor extension
- Rear two storey extension
- Basement with or without front and/or rear lightwells
- Single or double storey side extension
- Loft extension
Some of the above are quite straightforward in terms of securing Planning Permission and/or Permitted Development (a Certificate of Lawfulness). Some are of course more site dependent especially when considering two storey side extensions. An experienced Architect can review your property and provide a high level desk top assessment of what should be viable at the property.
An Architect will provide designs to your brief but also advise on how best to stitch new to old in a sensitive design approach that will be met favourably with the Planning department and address Planning Policy.
Interior House Re-planning
When adding extensions to a property it is necessary to consider the impact of the new space on the existing. This critical factor is important to budget for as the whole house accommodation offer usually needs to be re-considered when transforming each floor level.
Typically period houses suffer from a lack of storage, no cloak rooms, no dedicated utility area and more. When designing additions to a house, Architects should also show what could be undertaken in adjoining areas to further improve the full impact of the added space.
Adding side return infills creates design opportunities to significantly change the operability of the ground floor plan and create new spaces that can offer a better servant/served balance.
Extensions and Neighbours
Good neighbourliness should be encouraged at an early stage. On learning an extension project is being considered, an adjoining owner can become understandably concerned. The Party Wall process is in place to address and protect all parties impacted by such a project. It can be the case that clients have to cover costs for a number of adjoining owners Party Wall Surveyors – something to best appraise at the outset of a project when budgetting. Atelierdb are highly experienced in the Party Wall Act and advise clients throughout the Design stages.
Send us your enquiry
If you have an interesting project you want to discuss then get in touch below
info@atelierdb.com | +44 (0) 203 142 7672
